Civil Society Criticizes ASEAN for Turning a Blind Eye to Human Rights Violations in Burma

By Task Force on ASEAN and Burma • February 11, 2011

Burma’s civil society today delivered an open letter signed by forty organizations and individuals to ASEAN heads of states expressing their extreme disappointment with the statements presented by ASEAN delegates at the Interactive Dialogue of Burma’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on 27 January 2011 in Geneva.

“Burma remains one of the worst rights violators in the world,” said Aung Myo Min, coordinator of the Task Force on ASEAN and Burma and representative of the Burma Forum-UPR. “Despite this, statements from ASEAN delegates failed to acknowledge the severity of rights violations in Burma or the regime’s role as the main perpetrator of widespread and systematic human rights violations.”

Attacks on ethnic and religious minorities, sexual violence, arbitrary arrests and detention of political prisoners, recruitment of child soldiers, and forced displacement are but a few of the abuses that the military regime continues to inflict upon the people of Burma.

“ASEAN nations must recognize that by ignoring and concealing the regime’s role in perpetrating human rights violations in Burma, they are tacitly sanctioning such acts and allowing them to continue unabated,” stated the open letter.

The Universal Periodic Review on Burma was a significant opportunity for the international community to highlight Burma’s failing human rights record and engage with the regime to improve their human rights practices.

“Rather than genuinely engaging with the process, ASEAN delegates have helped cover up some of the worst atrocities perpetrated by a state against its people,” stated Aung Myo Min. “If ASEAN wants to be perceived as a credible geopolitical body, it must be more concerned about human rights violations in Burma and take concrete steps to improve the situation.”

The open letter urged ASEAN nations to promptly address Burma’s human rights record, calling for the release of all political prisoners, a cessation of attacks against ethnic communities, genuine tripartite dialogue and a review of the 2008 Constitution with all stakeholders, including the National League for Democracy, other democracy groups and ethnic representatives. The letter further called on Indonesia to live up to its commitment to strengthen the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) during its time as chair of the regional body.

“Without concrete and actionable recommendations that firmly address Burma’s human rights record, there will be little change in the lives of the people of Burma,” stated the open letter.

The Task Force on ASEAN and Burma is a diverse network of civil society organizations from Burma working to promote a people-centered ASEAN that is supportive to the cause of democracy, human rights, and peace in Burma.

For more information, please contact:

Aung Myo Min, Coordinator of the Task Force on ASEAN and Burma (TFAB), +66 (0) 819925293
Khin Ohmar, Coordinator of Burma Partnership, +66 (0) 818840772

Tags: ASEAN, Human Rights, Task Force on ASEAN and Burma, Universal Periodic Review

This post is in: Press Release

Civil Society Criticizes ASEAN for Turning a Blind Eye to Human Rights Violations in Burma

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